US renewables training institute Solar Energy International (SEI) and BayWa Renewable Energy have picked the first five recipients of a solar training scholarship fund worth $10,000 collectively.
BayWa RE’s scholarship fund was created earlier this year to contribute 100% of SEI tuition fees for nine chosen future solar professionals.
The programme is aimed at supporting candidates who have become unemployed or underemployed during the coronavirus pandemic.
Recipients of the BayWa RE Scholarship Fund receive technical and safety training via SEI’s online or in-person classes and labs, to help each graduate improve their chances of landing a solar job while also increasing the diversity of the solar workforce.
Applications are still open for the final four scholarships, which will be awarded later this year.
The initial recipients will begin their online training this summer.
SEI development director Marla Korpar said: “We must expand access to professional training to widen and deepen the solar industry’s global talent pool.
“Partnering with BayWa RE for this scholarship offers a wonderful opportunity to diversify and strengthen the solar workforce.”
The first BayWa RE Scholarship Fund recipients are Turner Adornetto, from Colorado, Jenna Dunne, from Florida, Mark Keil, from New York, Andrew Robitaille, from Maine and Neil Tweardy, from Connecticut.